Looking at Tai'an from the full moon

Xiao Zuochen stood on the tower of Wangyan City, looking into the distance. The mountains in the distance were looming in the twilight, as if a layer of gauze was covering the earth. The wind blew from the north gate, bringing a hint of chill, rolling up his wide sleeves. His fingers gently tapped the stone bricks of the city wall, but his thoughts had already flown to Tai'an City not far away.

Tai'an City, a place he was once familiar with but yet unfamiliar with. The emperor's suspicion, his mother's abandonment, the undercurrents in the court, the struggle for power, everything seemed to be just yesterday. Now coupled with his brother's betrayal, he no longer wanted to be the prince bound by the imperial power, but wanted to be the master of his own life, the master of Wangyan City.

"Xiao Zuochen."

A deep voice came from behind him, interrupting his thoughts.

Xiao Zuochen turned around and saw Chu Yao standing behind him, wearing a black tights, with picturesque features, but with a bit of coldness. Xiao Zuochen rarely saw such a serious expression on Chu Yao's face, probably because he was too tired from running back and forth between the cities recently.

Humans are really animals with complicated emotions. People who are obviously your blood relatives don't want you to have an easy life, while people who have nothing to do with you risk their lives to help you. Chu Yao is obviously the young master of Shenyin Pavilion, and he can be free and unrestrained. Now he follows him to Wangyan City and runs around for him.

"came back."

Xiao Zuochen smiled slightly, with a hint of deep meaning in his eyes.

Chu Yao nodded, walked to his side, and also looked into the distance.

"There's news from Tai'an City."

He whispered, his tone solemn.

Xiao Zuochen frowned slightly, "How?"

"Xiao Zuoming has ordered all exits of Tai'an City to be blocked, especially those ministers who once supported you. They are now under close surveillance. Xiao Zuoming has obviously noticed your intentions."

Chu Yao's voice was low and calm, as if he was stating something very ordinary.

Xiao Zuochen sneered.

"Sure enough, Lao Liu has really grown a lot and now knows how to supervise all officials.

Most of the ministers in Tai'an City supported me in the past, and they hold important resources of the court. Although I don't want to rebel, Xiao Zuoming is forcing me to become king. Even if the ministers who once supported me express their opinions now, Xiao Zuoming may not trust them. After all, the Grand Tutor and the Grand Guardian have resigned and left the capital, and the others will also worry about their lives. If we can bring them safely to Wangyan City, our strength will be greatly enhanced.

However, now that the city gates are blocked, and those ministers and their families do not know martial arts, it is difficult to get them out safely, and time is running out. Unless..."

"Unless there is a secret passage leading directly to the outside!"

"Unfortunately not. We have to find another way."

"Who said no?"

A hint of surprise flashed across Xiao Zuochen's eyes.

"Is there a secret passage?"

Chu Yao smiled slyly.

"Of course! Come with me!"

Chu Yao brought Xiao Zuochen back into the house and pointed to the blank spot on the map.

"Look here, although it is not marked on the map, this is actually a secret passage underground. This secret passage was secretly built by the Shenyin Pavilion hundreds of years ago. It was originally built to prevent accidents of successive emperors. It is also the secret guarded by each generation of the Shenyin Pavilion. However, since Emperor Mingren ascended the throne, no emperor has known about this secret passage, and Xiao Zuoming certainly does not know about it. I didn't expect it to come in handy today.

The exit of the secret passage is in the forest outside Tai'an City. As long as we can lead them to the exit safely, the emperor's men will not be able to track them!"

After listening to this, Xiao Zuochen nodded, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"Great! Now we just need a careful plan to ensure they can leave Tai'an City safely through the secret passage!"

Xiao Zuochen pondered for a moment and shouted outside the house.

"Yun Feng!"

Yun Feng suddenly appeared like a ghost.

"master!"

"I need you to go to Tai'an City again!"

Yun Feng was slightly stunned, then he understood his intention.

"Your Majesty, do you want me to pick them up personally?"

Xiao Zuochen nodded.

"You are the most suitable candidate. You are familiar with the topography of Tai'an City and the details of those ministers. The ministers will trust you if they send you there."

Yun Feng nodded.

"Okay, I'll leave as soon as possible."

Xiao Zuochen patted his shoulder with a look of trust in his eyes.

"be careful!"

---

In Tai'an City, the night is as dark as ink.

Yun Feng stood in an abandoned house. It was quiet except for the rustling of the wind through the treetops. He looked up at the sky and calculated the time silently in his mind. According to the plan, the ministers would leave Tai'an City through the secret passage tonight, and he would be responsible for meeting them.

Suddenly, there was a slight sound of footsteps in the distance. Yun Feng immediately became alert, his hand on the hilt of the knife behind him, his eyes scanning the surroundings like a hawk. After a moment, several shadows flashed out from the darkness, and the one leading them was none other than the Minister of War, Lord Li.

"Master Yunfeng, it is indeed you!"

Lord Li said in a low voice, with a hint of joy in his tone.

Yun Feng nodded, glanced at them, and after confirming that there was nothing unusual, he spoke in a low voice.

"Time is running out, let's leave immediately."

Lord Li nodded and followed him, and the group quickly passed through the abandoned house and headed towards the entrance of the secret passage.

However, just as they were about to reach the entrance of the secret passage, a burst of hurried horse hoof sounds suddenly came from the distance. Yun Feng's face changed, and he immediately signaled everyone to stop.

"Oh no, the Emperor's men are chasing us!"

Lord Li exclaimed in a low voice, with a hint of panic in his tone.

Yun Feng's eyes turned cold and he made a quick decision.

"You go first, I'll hold them back!"

Lord Li hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Master Yunfeng, be careful!"

Yun Feng said nothing more, and turned to the direction where the sound of horse hooves came from. He knew that he had to buy enough time for Lord Li and the others.

A moment later, a group of cavalry appeared in his sight, led by Zhao Wuji, Xiao Zuoming's confidant and the new commander of the imperial army.

"Yunfeng?"

Zhao Wuji obviously recognized him, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. "Why is it you?"

Yun Feng sneered and pulled out the big knife from behind.

"Commander Zhao, long time no see."

Zhao Wuji frowned.

"You saved me before, so I won't kill you. But you can't take those traitors away today!"

Yun Feng didn't answer, but just looked at him coldly.

A hint of anger flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes, and then he waved his hand and gave an order.

"Capture him alive!"

Before he finished speaking, dozens of cavalrymen had already rushed towards Chu Yao. Yun Feng's eyes turned cold, and his figure flashed like a ghost. The big knife in his hand drew a cold light, and instantly repelled several cavalrymen.

However, the enemy had a large number of people, and although Yun Feng was a skilled martial artist, he gradually felt overwhelmed. Just as he was about to be surrounded, a sudden rain of arrows came from a distance, instantly forcing Zhao Wuji's cavalry to retreat.

Yun Feng was stunned, and then he saw Chu Yao rushing out from the darkness with a group of people, with the longbow in his hand fully drawn.

"Yun Feng, get out of the way!"

Xiao Zuochen shouted coldly, then shot an arrow straight at Zhao Wuji's throat.

Zhao Wuji's face changed drastically and he quickly dodged to the side. The arrow brushed past his shoulder, leaving a trail of blood.

"You are Chu Yao!?"

Zhao Wuji looked at him with gritted teeth, his eyes full of anger.

Chu Yao sneered and swept his eyes across Zhao Wuji like a knife.

"Commander Zhao, today's matter ends here. If you dare to pursue me again, don't blame me for being rude."

Zhao Wuji's face was gloomy, and he obviously knew that he was no match for Chu Yao. He gritted his teeth and finally waved his hand to order a retreat.

Yun Feng walked up to Chu Yao and asked in a low voice.

"How did you come?"

Chu Yao grinned.

"I was worried about you, so I personally brought people to pick you up."

Yun Feng’s body stiffened when he heard this.

Chu Yao saw his horrible look and patted his shoulder.

"I'm just kidding. Xiao Zuochen is worried about you. Let's go. We have more important things to do."

---

Looking at the smoky city, the night is deep.

Xiao Zuochen stood on the city wall, looking into the distance, but he had a new plan in mind. He knew that Xiao Zuoming would not let him go easily, and he could not sit and wait for death. Wangyan City and Beiguan would become the foundation for him to establish his own business.

"Master, Lord Li and his men have arrived safely."

Yun Feng walked up to him and whispered.

Xiao Zuochen nodded.

"Very good. Next, we need to speed up our pace, contact more ministers, and expand our strength."

Yun Feng nodded, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes.

"Master, rest assured, I will complete the task!"

Xiao Zuochen smiled slightly.

"With you here, I feel relieved."

The two stood side by side on the tower, the night wind blew, bringing a hint of coolness. The mountains in the distance appeared particularly clear under the moonlight, as if foreshadowing the road ahead.